The 1950s Kitchen Colors

Postwar America witnessed an unrivalled population, technological and economic boom. Sleek kitchens outfitted with the latest appliances were considered a must-have in burgeoning suburban enclaves. A mix of pastels and vibrant colours gave these modernistic kitchens a quirky, optimistic quality that is still in demand today. These distinctive colour combinations stood in stark contrast to traditional colour schemes of previous decades. Instantly recognisable, 1950s kitchen colours remain a favourite among design enthusiasts.

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Red

Mainly associated with the retro diner look, red also featured prominently in a variety of other 1950s kitchen colour schemes. Red, as a predominate colour, was often used on Formica countertops and linoleum flooring. These large expanses of red were balanced with other colours, such as yellow walls, white cabinets and green accents. Red, sometimes used as an accent colour, showed up on Formica tables and vinyl chair upholstery.

Pink

Look to the quintessential poodle skirt as design inspiration for 1950s kitchens. The pink, white and black colour scheme seems odd but was quite the rage in the 1950s. Pink appliances like cooktops and ovens coordinated with wallpaper, paint, furniture, countertops and flooring. Pink kitchens had a decidedly feminine appeal, which was not a problem during the 1950s when the kitchen was typically the woman's domain.

Turquoise

Accents of atomic turquoise could be found in other rooms of the house, but this colour was particularly common in the kitchen. Much like its pink counterpart, a kitchen could be decorated in all things turquoise, with accents of chrome, black, white and red. Manufacturers of cabinets, flooring, countertops and major appliances, as well as clocks, breadboxes, dinnerware and fabrics, embraced the turquoise trend that continued into the early 1960s.

Yellow

Yellow, also a favourite kitchen accent colour in the 1940s, really took off during the next decade. Often paired with colours like white, green, black and red, yellow could be found in varying intensities and shades, from muted yellows utilised on walls and cabinets to punches of bright yellow wallpaper patterns, upholstery and ceramic serving pieces.

Green

Like yellow, green was a holdover from 1940s kitchens that made a big splash in the 1950s. Deep jadeite and pastel mint green were used in the same room and might be accented with contrasting touches of white and yellow. Dark jadeite linoleum brought a hint of the outdoors to kitchen floors. Glossy mint green vinyl chairs and banquettes graced chrome and Formica dinette sets. Jadeite dinnerware coordinated with red, brown and yellow cafe curtains and tea towels.

Black

Black was used primarily as an accent colour in 1950s kitchens. Black found its way into the abstract fabric patterns featuring bold colour combinations. Black wall clocks, cabinet knobs, wall-mounted telephones and Eames-style kitchen chairs provided a counterpoint for the many space-age colours of the day.

White

Quite the rage in 1950s kitchens, white conjures up romanticised images of diners with bold shots of red and black. In reality, white was used to create a bright neutral background with cabinets, appliances and countertops. Homeowners utilised a range of accent colours, from traditional yellow, green and red to atomic turquoise, pink and orange to provide a welcome contrast.